Almost anybody knows that there are sailing championships on the river Danube and on the Austrian…read morelakes. Oh yes, and of course you see little guys learning how to sail on the river Danube...
But hardly anyone knows that an Austrian is the only woman in the highest sailing class, the STAR, a male domaine, has already been internationally quite successful and holds rank 65 on the world's ranking list.
She is a member of Austria's Orca Sailing Club Hartberg, Styria which is a subclub of the Austrian Sailing Federation.
Here I present you Mrs. Martina Mittendorfer, one of the best sailers in the world:
1) How did you come to the sailing sport?
I was living at a lake ever since I was a child. I was sailing with my father and that's what brought me to the sport. Of course, there was a break of some time, but now I am back and I feel like I returned home. For me it is the most natural thing to be on the water. I could even live on the water.
Desto mehr Wind, desto lebendiger werde ich!
2) What was your greatest success? Personally: Surviving the accident. Sailing: Star European Championship Viareggio, Italy Pos. 81 and the Star Eastern Hemishpere Championship Boltenhagen Pos. 23 at a strong wind estuary. When there are around 50 boats starting and you reach position 23 at an international event - that feels really good. Holding rank 65 of the world ranking list makes me very proud.
3) Your are a woman sailing star? What problems did you have to overcome? The weight. I only weigh 76 kg. The crew has to have more weight, the skipper less. People were always looking for man weighing 100kg. Now I am asking you: Do you prefer a man that is weighing 100kg, bringing the weight, but does not have any feeling for the boat or a woman that weighs much less and has got a good feeling for the boat?
4) What was your worst moment? At my first regatta - the hanging strap gave away and I was thrown way into the air and would have gone overboard, if my skipper hadn't caught me at the last moment. When you have an experience like that you will never forget it. It takes a while till you can proceed. It still is a funny moment when 20/30 boats reach the marker.
5) What are your highest targets? STAR Class should be open for both genders. To sail as crew or skipper in the next championship, to sail as crew or skipper the Bacardi Cup, to sail as crew or skipper with the most experienced men on Star, to sail on sea, to sail International Championships - to be good at sailing
To repair my little woody star 4619 - my father's wooden boat and sail a regatta with it.
In this little woody star 4619 there is lots of heart and feelings, my childhood, my father and my love to the sea and the boats.
6) You have been sailing for quite a long time, what would you pass on to younger people and what would you change in the sailing sport?
Take any chance that's offered, don't waste an opportunity , just because it is small. Sailing teaches you teamwork, keeping rules, doing things that you also do not like, you have to face bad moments, situations and you have to find solutions, to tomorrow or in a week, but right at the spot or you drown, on a boat you cannot escape, you have to make decisions right away, sailing needs endurance, courage,
Success does not come right at the spot, it takes some time, if you are patient and work hard on yourself, the success will come.
There is nothing better than the wind and the salty fresh air on your face and a Star under your feet.
